Apparatus for mixing materials



April 13, 1937. w. c. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOB MIXING MATERIALS Filed Aug. 24, 1936 Patented Apr. 13, 1937 APPARATUS FOR MIXING MATERIALS William C. Anderson, San Francisco, Calif., as,-

signor of one-half to fax, Calif.

William H. Brooks, Fair- Application August Z4, 1936, Serial No. 97,492

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for mixing materials,V and especially to an apparatus whereby crushed or pulverized materials of different character may be thoroughly mixed or blended, or semi-liquid or plastic and also liquid materials` may be blended.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the operation of vmixing crushed or pulverized materials, either dry or wet,

and similarly plastic, semi-liquid and liquid substances, and particularly to provide a method and apparatus whereby the mixing or blending of materials, whether dry, plastic, semi-liquid or liqq uid, is accomplished by repeated successive l5 spreading and gathering operations accompanied by the simultaneous screening of the materials and tumbling of the materials over and over upon themselves.

One form of apparatus which is employed is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig. l is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the mixing apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of frame containing the screens;

Fig'. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the gathering action of one screen;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the spreading action of another screen;

Fig. 6 shows a modified form of screen arrangement.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates in general a horithe removable zontally disposed elongated cylindrical-shapedV container, which is permanently closed at one end by a head 2 and provided with a removable head 3 in the opposite end.` The cylinder or container is supported to permit rotation upon its central longitudinal axis; a shaft 4 journaled in the beari ing 5 forming a support at vone end and an annular track ring 6 engaging roller 'I forming a support for the opposite end. Any suitable means 4:5 may be provided for rotating the drum, such as a gear, or pulley 8, secured on the shaft 4.

The container is provided with a cover 9 which may be opened when materials are to be emptied or discharged, and means are placed within the container for mixing or `blending materials; the

mixing means employed being best illustrated inV Figs. 2 and 3.

The mixing mechanism consists of a pair of ring-shaped end members, indicated at I0 and I I, which are connected by longitudinally extending bars I2; the rings and bars forming a frame generally indicated at B, which supports a pair of members I4 and I5 which serve several functions, rst, that of elevating and dropping the materials to be mixed; secondly, that oi alternately gathering and then spreading the materials; and third, that of subjecting the materials to a screening action.

When dry or pulverized materials are to be mixed or blended, the members i4 and I5 are formed of a screen material of suitable mesh. In other instances they may be perforated plates and where liquids are to be blended unperforated plates may be employed. Be that as it may, one essential feature of the present invention is that the members I4 and I5 must present angular or inclined faces, such as shown at Iii.a and i521, this being of great importance as it is the angular disposition of these members that causes the materials to be alternately spread and gathered during rotation of the container.

Another desirable feature is the offsetting of the members I4 and I5 with relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 2. That is, they are placed parallel to a radial line l5 drawn across the cylindrical-shaped container and on opposite sides thereof. This offsetting of the membersl I4 and I5 causes transfer or dropping of the' material from one member to the other once during each half revolution of the container and is of considerable importance as it materially facilitates screening of the materials when that is desired.

For the purpose of permitting cleaning ci the mixer and also to permit changing of the screens M and I5, for instance from one mesh to another, the frame B supporting them is made removable. This is accomplished as follows: Secured within the inner face of the cylinder, or container A, are a series of channel-shaped tracks Il. naled at the opposite ends of the bars i2 of the frame B are rollers IB. The fra-me B containing the screens or members Ill and l5 may be slipped endwise into container A when the end cover 3 is removed. The rollers IB will then enter between the channel members Il and will not only support the frame centrally within the container but a driving connection will at the same time be formed between the container and the frame, as the rollers IB enter the channel l'l and are secured against lateral movement with relation thereto; endwise removal of the frame when once inserted being prevented by applying and securing the cover 3 by bolts and nuts or any other suitable means. Hence, by merely removing the cover 3,

J our- .y tainer.

the frame B as a whole may be readily removed in an endwise direction for cleaning, inspection and repair, or to permit changing of the screens or members i4 and l5.

In actual operation, if dry pulverized materials of diierent character are to be thoroughly mixed or blended, they are placed within the container by merely opening the cover 9. When the different materials have been entered, the cover is closed and power is applied to rotate the container, the revolutions of the container being comparatively slow. During each rotation of the container, the screens will tend to pick up the material and elevate it and when the screens assume the position shown in Fig. 2, the material that is not sifted through the uppermost screen will slide off and drop onto the lower screen; this being important as such movement materially facilitates screening and mixing of the material. Also, it will be obvious that as the cylinder rotates and the material is being sifted through the screens it will roll or tumble over and over upon itself and thus produce a further mixing action.

One or more important features accomplished is that of alternately spreading and gathering the material as it is being mixed. This is accomplished as follows: By inclining the screens, as shown in Fig. 3, one screen will assume the position shown in Fig. 4 and any material picked up by that screen and elevated will naturally tend to gather towards the center of the screen and sift through. When the next screen picks up the material and elevates it, it will assume a reverse position, as shown in Fig. 5, and in this position the material will tend to slide down the inclined surfaces of the screen towards the opposite ends of the drum and thus spread the material. The rlrst mentioned screen will, during the next revolution, pick up the spread material and as its sides are disposed on opposite or downwardly inclining angles the material will tend to slide down the center of the screen there to be gathered towards the center of the con- This operation will, of course, be repeated over and over during the rotation of the drum and thorough mixing or blending of the materials is insured.

One important use for dry mixing is in connection with the baking industry where diiferent ingredients must be thoroughly mixed.

In the paint industry where a semi-liquid substance is to be handled, partially perforated plates may be employed as a substitute for the screens.

In other industries where purely liquid substances are to be mixed, unperforated plates 'may be employed, but in each instance the angular position of the plates or screens should be such that the screens cooperate to rst gather and then to spread the material, whether it be in the pulverized dry form, or it be in a plastic semi-liquid or liquid form.

These screens, or in other words the members I4 and I 5, when arranged as shown in Fig. 3 will spread and gather the material once during each revolution. By placing the screens as shown in Fig, 6, the material will be gathered and spread twice during each revolution. Either arrangement is efcient but the choice in the arrangement will obviously depend upon the materials being handled.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical-shaped horizontally disposed container, means for supporting and rotating the container, said container adapted to receive a plurality of materials to be mixed, and a pair of screens secured within the container, said screens being V-shaped longitudinally and said screens alternately elevating and dropping the material and simultaneously alternately spreading and gathering the material during rotation of the container.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical-shaped horizontally disposed container, means for supporting and rotating the container, said container adapted to receive a plurality of materials to be mixed, a detachable head on one end of the container, a frame within the container and endwise removable therefrom, means within the container for receiving, supporting and rotating the frame, and a pair of screens secured in the frame, said screens having angularly disposed surfaces, said screens alternately elevating and dropping the materials and simultaneously and alternately spreading and gathering the materials during rotation of the container and the frame.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising a cylindrical-shaped horizontally disposed container, means for supporting and rotating the container, said container adapted to receive a plurality of materials to be mixed, and a pair of screens secured within the container, said screens presenting surfaces which incline longitudinally from the ends towards their centers so as to present inclined surfaces, and said screens alternately elevating and dropping the materials and simultaneously spreading and gathering the materials during rotation of the container.

WILLIAM C. ANDERSON. 

